Triple action hinge bracket



July 15, 1941. F. .LSTOLLSTEIMER TRIPLE ACTION HINGE BRACKET `Filed Dec. 5, 1940 Patented July 15, 1941 oies 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a hinge bracket, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hinge bracket for support of shelving or the like; which may be readily collapsed to a folded position against the supporting surface.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bracket of a collapsible character which is of extreme simplicity in operation and manufacture, and which will be of a i'lrm and rigid nature when in erect or operative position, without liability of collapse of the bracket accidentally.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a hinge bracket in which the parts are automatically locked in an operative position by merely moving the shelf portion thereof to a position slightly above the locked position and releasing the shelf portion.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a hinge bracket, in which the shelf portion thereof may be moved to positions parallel to the supporting bracket thereof, above or below the pivot of the shelf portion, making the bracket susceptible to use in various wall structures, such as butchers refrigerators, cabinets, counters, wrapping boards, seats, and the like.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hinge bracket applied to a supporting wall.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section on the line II- of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the hinge bracket, in operative position.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a bracket I0, substantially T-shaped defined by a pair of oppositely disposed ears I I adjacent the top edge. Each of the ears is provided with a slot I2 extending from its lower edge in an upward direction a suitable distance. The bracket IIJ may be of any suitable length, which will be dependent, of course, upon the service to which thebracket may be employed, and at its lower end there is formed a slot I3 extending upwardly into the body of the bracket, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The slots I 2 and I3 receive suitable fastening means such as screws, for securing the bracket to a support wall indicated at I4.

The bracket III has integrally formed therewith, at the vertical edges, a flange I5 extended at right angles to the bracket. Each of the flanges I5 are gradually widened in an upward direction so as to position apertured ears I6, outwardly from the wall I4. The flanges I5 are also provided with respective ears I1 adjacent their lower ends for a purpose presently to be explained.

A shelf bracket arm I8 is provided, of elongated form, consisting of a pair of spaced Wall sections I9, connected at their outer ends as at 2i? and terminating in an apertured ear 2|. The ear 2I lies flush with the upper longitudinal edges of the sections I9, and similarly formed ears 22 are provided upon the sections I9 extended laterally therefrom, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5. The inner ends of the sections I9 are each formed with apertured lugs 23 adapted to register with respective ears I6 and receive a pintle 2li therethrough for pivotal mounting of the arm I8 upon the bracket I0. A shelf 25 laid nat upon the ears 2l and 22 may be secured by means of screw or other fastenings 25. A single bracket assembly is here shown, but obviously, any number of brackets'may be employed in supporting a shelf, this depending entirely upon the length of the shelf required in a given situation.

Each of the wall sections I9 have inwardly directed flanges 26 extending from vertical buttress portions 21, slightly in advance of the ears 22 to the connecting portion 25 of the sections. Approximately midway between the buttress portion 21 and the portion 20, the flanges 26 are inclined downwardly as at 28, the fore portion of the flanges 26 extending rearwardly over the inclined portion 28 as at 29, defininga keeper 3U upon each flange.

A support rod 3| arranged to support the shelf 25 in operative position is arranged between the bracket Ii) and the bracket arm I8, and as shown, consists in a head 32 of a width slidably engaged between the flangesY 26 and having oppositely disposed pins 33 adapted to traverse the upper faces of the flanges 26 as well as to be received within the keeper 3U, at times. The opposite end of the rod 3| is provided with a slot 34 extending longitudinally of the rod and of a length approximately one-half the length of the rod. A pin 35 carried by the ears I'I extends through the slot 34, as clearly `shown in Figure 3, and it will be noted that the pin 35 occupies a position outwardly of the rear terminal end of the slot, providing a lost motion between the pin and the slot, when the bracket is in operative position. It should also be noted that the rod 3l is slightly arcuate-shaped adjacent the slot 34, the latter being similarly formed, which is essential to the various movements required of the rod in assuming different positions which may be taken by the bracket.

The operation will be readily understood from the following description, attention being invited to Figure 1 of the drawing. It will be assumed that the hinge bracket is in collapsed position as indicated in dotted lines at A, and it is desired to bring the bracket into operative position. It is only necessary to lift upwardly upon the board 25, which is pivotally mounted by the pin 24.

Such movement of the board causes the rod 3l to swing in an arcuate path by reason of the arcuate slot 34 traversing the pin 35. As soon as the rear end of the slot 34 engages the pin 35 further movement will be prevented, causing the head 32' of the rod to slide rearwardly upon the flanges 26 in the direction of the bracket I0, until the pins 33 register with the open end of the keeper 30. The board 25 is now released, allowing the pins 33 to slide downwardly upon the inclined portion 28 until the pins come to rest at the base of the keeper, and at such point, the shelf arm I3 and shelf board will be secured in operative position. Of course, the position of the keeper 3%) and the length of the rod 3| is such as to hold the shelf 25 in horizontal position. It will also r be noted that when the shelf board 25 reaches a horizontal position the rear end of the rod 3l abuts the bracket I0, as shown in Figure 3.

To bring the bracket to a collapsed inoperative position it is'only necessary to move the shelf i board 25 on its pivot 24 in a slight upward direction and give the rod 3| a rearward movement so as to disengage the keeper 3U and then release the shelf board, allowing the pins 33 to slide over the keeper 3B, when it will drop to the position A.

In certain situations, it might be desirable to collapse the bracket in an upward direction, as indicated in dotted lines at B, in Figure l. This is accomplished by merely lifting the shelf 25 to such position which is permitted by the slot 34.

While I have shown and described my bracket specifically, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own, all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hinged bracket comprising a bracket having means f-or securement to a supporting surface, an elongated arm pivotally connected to the bracket, said arm` having spaced flanges extending longitudinally thereof the flanges having a downwardly inclined part defining akeeper, a rod pivotally, and slidably mounted on the bracket below the pivot of the elongated arm, said rod having a head positioned between the flanges of the arm, and-said head havingoppositely disposed members adapted to slidably engage said flanges under swinging movement of the arm and to engage said keeper in operative position of the arm.

2. A hinged bracket comprising a bracket having means for securement to a supporting surface, an elongated arm pivotally connected to the bracket, said arm having spaced longitudinally extended flanges, said flanges having a downwardly inclined part opening in a direction rearwardly of the free end of the arm to define a keeper, a rod pivotally and slidably mounted on the bracket below the Divot of the elongated arm, said rod having a head positioned between the anges of the arm, said head having oppositely disposed members adapted to slidably engage the upper surfaces of the anges under swinging movement of the arm and to engage said keeper in operative position of the arm and rod, and said arm having means for securement of a shelf.

3. A hingged bracket comprising a bracket having means for securement to a supporting surface, an elongated arm pivotally connected to the bracket, said arm having spaced longitudinally extended flanges, said anges having a downwardly inclined part opening in a direction rearwardly of the free end of the arm to dene a keeper, spaced ears on the bracket below the pivot of the arm and including a transverse pin, a rod having a slot and receiving the pin therethrough, said Slot extending longitudinally of the rod approximately half its length, a head member on the rod slidable between the flanges, said 'head member having oppositely disposed pins adapted to slide freely upon the upper surfaces of the flanges under swinging movements of the arm and to engage said keeper in operative position of the arm and rod, said arm having abutments limiting sliding' movement of the head, and means on said arm for securing a shelf member.

4. A hinged bracket comprising a support bracket having means for securement to a supporting surface, a pair of parallel spaced ears adjacent the upper portion of the bracket and extended outwardly therefrom, a similar pair of ears adjacent the base of the bracket; an elongated arm, said arm comprising a pair of vertical parallel wall members connected at their forward ends, each wall member having a flange at its lower edge extended at right angles to the wall members and stopping short of the longitudinal axis of the arm, said wall members being pivotally connected at one endto the first named ears, each of said flanges having a downwardly inclined part opening in the direction of the pivoted end of the wall members, defining a keeper; a rod member slidably positioned between the flanges and having a head, said head having oppositely disposed pins of a length to slidably engage the upper surfaces of the flanges under swinging movement of the arm and to engage said keeper in operative position of the arm, an abutment on each flanger rearwardly of the downwardly inclined part of the flanges, said rod having an arcuately shaped lower extremity, a transversely extended arcuate slot formed in the lower extremity of the rod, the slot being aligned with apertures of the second named ears of said support bracket, a pin engaged' through the ears and the-slot, said pin being positioned inwardly of the extremity of the slot when the parts are in operative position permitting the lower end of the rod f to engage said support bracket, and said wall members having ears for securement of a shelf member above the flanges.

FREDERICK J. STOLLSTEIMER. 

